Abraham hurt in race crash

...Hoping for Commonwealth Games return

Trinidad and Tobago cyclist Emile Abraham was hurt in a crash at the Athens Twilight Pro Cycling Race on Saturday in Atlanta, suffering a concussion among other injuries, which will keep him sidelined for a while.

While his injuries were serious, the multiple time national champion is hoping to be back in time to represent T&T at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 3.

Describing his crash, Abraham said: “Coming around turn one halfway through the race, I had to pull hard to avoid hitting the railing and I lost traction and ended up going head first into the ground.”

However after going down, the race continued with the other cyclists coming around the sharp turn again at full speed, crashing into the downed cyclist a second time, causing further damage.

The race continued and the cyclists came around the bend and narrowly avoided hitting Abraham again before a car eventually made its way onto the track and parked on the corner to try and protect the rider from further damage.

It took a while, but paramedics finally got the T&T cyclist off the track, with Abraham waving to the crowd as he was carried away on a stretcher.

After receiving treatment, the former Pan American Games road race silver medallist tweeted: “Crashed hard last night at #athenstwilight.

“Thanks to everyone who have sent messages or called to see how I’m doing!”

“So here is my update...Suffered a concussion with riders plowing into me not once but twice (next lap after being on the ground still). Six stitches above my eye, broken nose and swollen chick bone with abrasions all down my right side.

“At the end of the day I will be ok and out of the hospital. Thanks,” he added.

Although he is optimistic about being back for the Commonwealth Games, he insisted everything will depend on the length of time it takes for him to recover from his injuries.

“It kind of depends on my recovery. It could be two weeks. It could be a month, one week. I can’t say exactly when I can get back on my bike but I’m just taking one day at a time,” he told the Express yesterday.

“I had planned to come out for the national championships but I will not be attending that now. I am trying to get back on my bike. That is my main focus now. I have the support from people in T&T so I will do my best to get back and be ready for the Commonwealth Games,” he added.